The Philippine Navy (PN) and United States Pacific Fleet have decided to further improve its strategic partnership so they can better respond to common regional security challenges.
The strengthening of the cooperation between the two navies was discussed when Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of US Pacific Fleet, paid a courtesy call on Vice Admiral Adeluis Bordado at the PN Headquarters in Naval Station Jose Andrada, Manila on Thursday, August 18.
Paparo, during his visit, described the naval relations between the PN and the United States Pacific Fleet to be at “exciting times right now and moving ahead.”
Both PN and US Pacific Fleet’s fleet and marine forces will train in a number of upcoming maritime exercises such as “Pagsasama” and “Balikatan” next year.
Meanwhile, Bordado apprised Paparo on the status of the implementing guidelines of “Bantay Dagat (Guardian of the Sea), a maritime security framework signed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) last May 23 to improve regional maritime domain awareness.
Paparo vowed to support "in each and every way” the initiatives that will be undertaken by both navies under the maritime framework.
The visiting admiral also congratulated the PN for the “remarkable” performance of guided-missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) and the Naval Task Group 80.5 contingent at the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2022 – the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise – held in Honolulu, Hawaii earlier this month.
The BRP Antonio Luna is now headed back to the Philippines after participating in the US-sponsored war games but it made a brief layover in Guam last August 17 for the replenishment of fuel and necessary provisions.
The replenishment is being facilitated by a support team from the PH Navy's Naval Logistic Center (NLC) led by Lt. Commander Brian Suico.